Refrigerator



Sept. 5, 1939. G. GRUBB REFRIGERATOR Filed Aug. 13, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ATTORNEK Sept. 5, 1939. G. GRUBB 2,171,745

REFRIGERATOR Filed Aug. 13, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

J@ ATTORNEY.

SeptQS, 1939. G. GRUBB 2,171,745

REFRIGERATOR Filed Aug. l5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 5, 1939 vParr-alii OFFICE REFRIGERATOR Gunnar Grubb, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application August 13, 1936, serial No. 95,804

In Germany August 17, 1935 27 Claims.

My invention relates to refrigerators, and more particularly to refrigeration apparatus of the absorption type.

It is an object of my invention to provide a refrigerator of the absorption type which is operated by liquid fuel.

Another object of my invention is to provide an absorption type refrigerator operated by a liquid fuel burner in which the liquid fuel is raised in a path of flow from a supply vessel to the burner.

A further object of my invention is to provide an absorption type refrigerator operated by a liquid fuel burner whereby the normal use and operation of the refrigerator provides energy for causing fuel to ow from a supply vessel to the burner.

A still further object of my invention is to pi'ovide an absorption type refrigerator operated by a liquidfuel burner in which liquid fuel is caused tc flow by compressed air from a supply'vessel to the burner.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an absorption type refrigerator .operated by a liquid fuel burner in'which fuel is caused to iiow from a supply vessel to the burner by the heating effect of the burner ame.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, and the various features which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings- I Fig. l is a side elevation, in section, of a refrigerator embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewl illustrating more clearly parts of the refrigerator shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates more fully refrigeration apparatus of which parts are shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 4is an enlarged sectional View of the burner shown in Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front .view of the refrigerator shown in Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a modification of the refrigerator illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 diagrammatically illustrates a further modification of the refrigerator shown in Fig. l; and Fig. Sis an enlarged sectional view of the burner shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown my invention embodied in a refrigerator including a cabinet I having thermally insulated walls II deflning a storage compartment I2 into which access may be had by a door I3 hinged tothe front of the cabinet. Below the storage pom- (cl. ca -5) va uniform pressure absorption type,- generally as disclosed in Patent No. 2,063,292 to H. K. Bergholm. Referring to Fig. `3, the refrigeration apparatus includes a generator I6 containing a refrigerant in solution in an absorption liquid. Although I do not4 wish to be limited thereto, the refrigerant may be ammonia and the absorption liquid may be water. 'Ihe generator I6 is heated by a liquid fuel burner I1 which projects a flame into the vlower conical-shaped end I8 of a flue I9 which extends vertically upward through the generator. A suitable liquid fuel is delivered from a supply vessel through conduit 2l, control valve 22 and conduit 23 to the burner I1.

The heat applied tothe generator I6 and its contents expels the ammonia out of solution, and the ammonia vapor ows upward to au air-cooled rectifier 24 which condenses Water vapor accompanying the ammonia vapor. The water condensed in the rectifier drains back to the generator, and theeammonia vapor flows upward-to an air-cooled condenser 25 provided with heat transfer fins 26. 4 Y

The ammonia is liquefied in the condenser 26 and -flows through a conduit `2l to the upper end of an evaporator coil 28 which forms part of the lcooling element 29. An inert gas, such as hydrogen, enters the upper end of the evaporator coil .28 from a vertically extending conduit 30. The hydrogen and liquid ammonia are in parallel flow or owing in the same direction in thev presence of each other, and the ammonia evaporates and diffuses into the hydrogen with consequent absorption of heat from `the surroundings of the cooling element 29. The resulting gas mixture of ammonia and hydrogen, that is, gas rich in ammonia,A flows from the evaporator coil 28 through the outer passage 3| of a gas heat exchanger 32 and vertically extending conduit 33 which communicates at its lower end with the v mixture into weak absorption liquid which enters the upper part of the absorber 34 through a vertically extending conduit 36. The hydrogen,

which is practically' insoluble and weak in amlgas mixture becomes enriched in ammonia by absorption and flows through an inner conduit 39 'of a liquid heat exchanger 40 to a coil 4I disposed about the lower end of the flue I9. The rich absorption liquid is raised by vapor-lift action from the coil 4| through conduit 42 into the upper part of the generator I6. The absorption liquid is raised to a higher level in the generator I6 than it is in the absorber 34, andabsorption liquid weak in ammonia flows from the lower end of the generator through conduit 43, outer conduit 44 of the liquid heat exchanger 40 and conduit 36 into the upper end of the absorber 34.

In order to maintain the cooling element 29 substantially at a desired low temperature, an expansible fluid thermostat responsive to the temperature of the cooling element is arranged to regulate valve 22 and control the flow of liquid fuel to the burner I1'. fluid thermostat contains a volatile fluid and comprises a. bulb 45 secured to and in thermal contact with the cooling element 29,. an expansible diaphragm 46 communicating with and secured to a hollow member 41, and a conduit 48 connecting the bulb 45 and hollow member 41. The expansible diaphragm 46 andhollow Vmember 41 are arranged to be supported within cas-- ing 49 by a resilient diaphragm 50 to which the hollow member 41 is secured. The expansible diaphragm 46 contacts stem 5I of valve 52 which is urged toward its closed position by a resilient spring 53.

When the cooling element 29 tends to rise above the desired temperature, the expansible fluid thermostat causes the expansible diaphragm 46 to expand and move the valve 52 downward against the tension of spring 53 to increase the flow of liquid fuel to the burner I1; andconversely, when the cooling element 29 tends to fall below the desired low temperature the expansible fluid .thermostat causes the expansible diaphragm 46 to contract and permit the valve 52 to be urged toward'its closed position to decrease the flow of liquid fuel to the burner I1.

The manner in which parts of the refrigeration just described are arranged in the refrigerator cabinet I0 is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5,- with similar parts designated by the same reference numerals. The generator I6 is positioned in the vertically extending compartment I5 and arranged within a metal shell 54- which contains a suitable heat insulating material, as indicated at 55. Although not shown in Fig. 1, the condenser 25 and absorber 34 may also be supported in the vertical compartment I5. The gas heat exchanger 32 extends through an opening in a. removable wall part 56 of the rear thermally insulated Wall, the removable wall part 56 being provided to position the cooling element 29 within the storage compartment I2.

" The burner I1 includes a hollow vertical conduit 51 to which is connected the conduit 23. To the upper reduced port-ion of the conduit 51 is secured a shallow vessel58 which is adapted The expansible to be filled with alcohol or suitable liquid to provide an auxiliary llame for starting the burner. The upper part of conduit51 is provided with a pair of forked hollow arms 59 which are closed at their extreme ends. As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, the arms 59 are provided with openings 60 which are in alignment with openings in the lower part of an annular hollow shell 6I which is secured to the outer ends of the arms 59. At

right angles to the arms 59 is arranged a U-y shaped hollow tube 62 having its ends secured to the shell 6I, the tube 62 being provided with openings communicating with openings in they upper part of the hollow shell 6I, as vindicated at 62a. A small nozzle 63 is provided at the lower part of the tube 62, and above the nozzle 63 is arranged an inverted cup 64 which is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 65 and secured `to the inner Wall of the annular shell 6I.

vWhen the burner vI1 is being operated, the

vliquid fuel in the annular shell 6I is vaporized,

and the vaporized fuel flows through the tube 62 and is projected upward in the form of a jet through the nozzle 463. The jet of vaporized fuel, which is mixed with surrounding air within the cup 64, passes through the openings 65 of the cup 64 at which region the burner ame is maintained. The openings 65 in the cup 64 are sufllciently close to the annular shell '6I so that the burner flame will contact the latter and insure vaporization of the liquid fuel in the annular shell 6|. To the lower end of the conduit' 51 is secured a sleeve 66 which is movable along a rod 61 which is arranged at one side of the apparatus compartment I4 and extends from the front to the rear of the cabinet I0. Suitable `means may be providedfor pulling the burner I1 forward in the compartment I4 for cleaning and inspecting the burner I1 as well as filling thevessel 58 with alcohol or other suitable liquid for starting the burner. In order that the burner I1 can be moved along the rod 61, the conduit 23 is ilexlble and provided with a looped portion 68.

The liquid fuel supply vessel 20 is supported by a bracket 69 at one side of the apparatus compartment I4, as shown in Fig. 5, and provided with an air-tight filling cap 10 accessible from the front of the cabinet' I0. A door or 'removable wall (not shown) maybe provided at the front of the cabinet to enclose the lower apparatus compartment I4'.

The burner I1 is at a higher level than the liquid fuel in the vessel 20, and liquid fuel is pumped to the burner I1 by maintaining the liquid fuel under pressure in the supply -vessel 2Il.`

This may be accomplished by'connecting the supply vessel 20 by means of conduit 1I to the cylinder 12 of an air pump 13 which is located.

a closed position the rod 15 and piston 14 are moved rearwardly against the tension of spring 18 Within the cylinder 12, and the air Within the vessel 20 is compressed. When the door I3 is movedfrom a closed toV an open position, spring 18 causes the rod 15 to move forward. During such forward movement of the rod 15, the valve 19 at the inside of the piston 14 opens to admit is suiiiciently great to pump fuel to the burner |'I and that the valve 28a in conduit 2| is closed, the refrigeration apparatus is started by pulling the burner 'I'I forward in the apparatus compartment |4 and filling the shallow vessel 58 with a fluid such as alcohol.

r the burner Il is moved back into position below the ue I9 of the generator I6. After the annular shell 6I of the burner has been heated for Y an interval of time by the auxiliary flame, the

valve 28a is gradually opened whereby liquid fuel, such as kerosene, is pumped from the supply vessel 28 to the annular shell 8| of the burner I'I. Due to the heating of the annular shell 8| by the auxiliary fianre, the liquid fuel is` vaporized to provide the burner name at the openings 85 of the cup 64, as described above. After the burner II has been started, the burner flame effectively heats the annular shell 8| to insure vaporization of the liquid fuel.

In view of the fact that the refrigerator door is frequently opened and closed and liquid fuel is consumed at a relatively small rate at the burner I'I, difficulty is not generally encountered in maintaining the pressure within supply vessel 28 sufficiently great to pump fuel against the force of gravity from the vessel to the burner. Although the pressure within vessel 28 may uctuate considerably and hence cause the burner flame to fluctuate in size, the control valve 22 is eifective to control the amount of heat applied to the generator I6. When the size of the burner ame is relatively high, for example, the only result is that a greater amount of refrigeration is produced by the cooling element 29 and the thermal bulb 45 is effective to control the Valve 22 and reduce the quantity of fuel supplied to the Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in which similar parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. This modification diifers from the embodiment just described in that a storage vessel 8| for compressed air is connected in the conduit 'I Ia and the thermal bulb 45 is arranged to control the supply of compressed air from the vessel 8| to the supply vessel 28 by means of a control valve 82 connected to the conduits lla and 1lb.

The control valve 82 includes a casing 83 within which is disposed a valve member 84. The valve member 84 is connected by a rod 85. to an expanslble bellows 86. The bulb 45, the expansible bellows 86, and tube 8l connecting the bulb and bellows contain a volatile fluid and constitute an expansible fluid thermostat for moving the valve member 84 in response to the temperature of the cooling element 29. When the cooling element tends to rise above a desired low temperature, the increase in volume of the volatile uid causes the expansible bellows 88 to expand and move the'` valve member 84 downward to the position shown in Fig. 6. In this position the passage 81 in valve member 84 communicates with the conduits After igniting the alcohol,

.becomes reduced in volume and causes the expansible bellows 88 to contract and move the valve member 84 upward. With such upward movement of the valve 84, the .conduit 14a is blocked to disconnect the compressed air storage vessel 8| from the fuel supply vessel 20; and, as the passage 81' in the valve 84 moves adjacent to the opening 88 of the casing 83, the supply vessel 28 is opened to the atmosphere and the pressure therein 'is gradually released so that fuel is no.

longer pumped to the burner I'I;

, The control valve 82 and expansible fluid thermostat preferably are so arranged that, when the cooling element 29is substantially at the desired temperature, the valve 84 assumes such a position that the horizontal portion of the passage 8l' is between the connection of the casing 93 to the conduit I Ia and the opening 88, whereby the storage vessel 8| is blocked off without completely reducing the pressure in the supply vessel 28. With the storage vessel 8| blocked oil', the pressure in the supply vessel 28 gradually becomes smaller as liquid fuel is, being pumped to the burner I1 with the result that the burner flame becomes reduced in size. 'I'he reduction in size of the burner flame decreases the amount of refrigration produced by the cooling element 29 and avoids com-.

pletely shutting off the supply of liquid fuel to the burner |'I. Only when the temperature of the cooling element 29 tends to fall below the desired temperature is the valve 84 moved upward such I provide a-control valve 89 in the conduit 43 which is arranged to be responsive tothe temperature of the burner flame. The control valve 89 comprises -a casing 98 within which is arranged a valve member 9| which is connected by a rod 92 to an expansible bellows 93. The bellows 93 is connected bymeans of a tube 94 to a thermal bulb 95 arranged adjacent to the burner I'I.

When the burner I'I is being operated, the volatile fluid in the expansible bellows 93 increases in volume and the valve 9| is in the pomaintained under pressure.v In addition, theV U-shaped passage 9'I of the valve 9| is in open communication with the two parts of the conduit 23 connected4v to the casing 98, .so that the liquid fuel under pressure in the vessel 28 is pumped to the burner II. If for any reason the burner am'e is extinguished, the expansible bellows 93 contracts and the valve 9| is moved toward the right to block ofi? 'the supply-of fuel to the burner I'I; and, when the .vertical portion of the passage 96 is moved adjacent to the opening 98 in the casing 90, the air under pressure in the supply vessel 28 is discharged to the atmosphere.

The operation of the modification shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that described above in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, and differs therefrom only in that the bulb 45 is associated with the control valve 82 to regulate the pressure of the liquid fuel in the supply `vessel 28, and that the thermal bulb 95 is assothe refrigeration apparatus in the vertical ap-v ciated with the control valve 89 to prevent any overflow of liquid fuel at the burner when the burner flame is extinguished.

Instead of utilizing the opening and closing movements of the 4door |`3 to maintain the liquid fuel in supply vessel 20 under pressure, the air pump may be manually or automatically operable to maintain the liquid fuel under pressure in the supply vessel. By pumping the liquid fuel by compressed air from the supply vessel tothe burner, it is possible to locate the supply vessel in the lower part'of the apparatus compartment I4 and effect' a more desirable arrangement of paratus compartment I5. Further, in some instances it may be desirable to employ a larger supply vessel which does not require frequent refilling and to locate the same at a distance from the refrigerator. In any case, however, the fact that the liquid fuel is pumped to the burner by compressed air enables the supplyvessel to be located below or approximately at the same level as the burner, the pumping of the fuel to the burner being positive and controllable, as described above.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a further modification of the embodiments described above in which similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals, it being understood that the parts of the refrigeration apparatus not shown may be arranged in a refrigerator cabinet in avmanner similar to that shown in Figs. 1

and 5. In this modification, liquid fuel is pumped from the supply vessel 20 to a higher level by means of the heating effect of the burner I1'. I accomplish this by connecting the conduit 23 from the lower part of the fuel supply vessel 20 to one end of a coil |00 disposed about the lower end of the flue |9, the other end of which is connected by a conduit I| to the upper part of a vessel |02 located at a higher level than the supply vessel 20'.

'Ihe burner which is similar to the burner I 1 described above and shown most clearly in Fig. 4, has the forked arms 59' thereof connected by means of aconduit |03 to the lower part of the Vessel |02. The upper part of the annular shell 6|', to which the ends of the forked arms 59 are secured, is connected by means of a conduit |04 to the upper part of the vessel |02. 'I'he supply vessel 20 is provided with an opening |05 adapted to be closed by a valve I 06 which may be connected in a suitable manner to be responsive to the temperatureA of the cooling element 29. This is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7 by connecting the valve |06 to an expansible bellows I0`| which is supported on a bracket |08 mounted on the supply vessel 20. The expansible bellows |01 is connected by a tube |09 to the bulb 45 which is adapted to be in thermal contact with the cooling element 29, as in the previously described embodiments. The bulb 45,

tube |09 and expansible bellows |01 constitute an expansible thermostat containing a volatile fluid whichincreases and decreases in volume with corresponding changes in temperature.

In the present modification, the refrigeration apparatus isv started by heating the lower end of the flue I9 by an auxiliary flame. The auxiliary flame may be obtained by lling the shallow vessel 58' with a suitable fluid, such as alcohol, and ignitingthe same. The heat applied to the lower end of the ue I9 by theV auxiliary flame vaporizes the liquid 4fuel in the coil |00, thereby causing vapor and liquid fuel to pass upward by vapor-lift action through the small diameter conduit 0| to the vessel |02. The vaporized fuel is conducted from the vessel |02 through the conduit |04, the hollow annular shell 6|', and openings 62h into the U-shaped tube 62', and is projected upward through the nozzle 03 into the inverted cup 64' which is secured to the inner wall of the shell 6|. The jet of vaporized fuel, which is mixed with surrounding air, passes through the openings 65' at which region the burner llame is maintained.

The liquid fuel in the vessel |02 is conducted through the conduit |03, forked arms 59' and openings 60' into the annular shell 6I. The liquid fuel is vaporized in the shell 6|' due to the heating of the latter by the auxiliary llame, .and the fuel thus vaporized mixes with the va- When the cooling element 29 is at the desiredl temperature, the valve |05 is open and liquid fuel in the supply vessel is at atmospheric pressure during normal operation of the burner,

Aas just described. With the valve |06 open the volatile fluid in the bulb 45, tube |08, and bellows |01 is increased in volume and the valve |06 is in the open position shown in Fig. 7. When the cooling element 29 tends to fall below the desired temperature, the volatile fluid becomes decreased in volume and the expansible bellows |01 contracts, whereby the valve |06 is moved upward to its closed position. With the valve |06 closed the vacuum produced in the supply vessel 20', as the liquid fuel is being pumped therefrom to the vessel |02, renders the burner flame ineffective to raise liquid fuel upward through the conduit |0I into the vessel |02. Although liquid fuel is not being pumped from the supply vessel 20 to the vessel |02, liquid fuel in the coil .|00 and the lower part of conduit |0| is vaporized due to the heating. effect of the burner flame, and such vaporized fuel is conducted to the vessel |02 and through the conduit |04 to the burner I1. The liquid fuel burner may be so constructed and aranged that when only vaporized fuel flows to the vessel |02 through the conduit |0|, the amount of heat applied to the generator bythe burner is reduced sufciently so that less refrigeration or cold is produced by the cooling element 29 and the latter will tend to remain at the desired temperature.

The vapor li'ftaction for raising vaporized and liquid fuel in the coil |00 and' conduit I0| is readily effected because in most liquid fuels, such as kerosene, constituent parts are present which volatilize at a relatively loW temperature. As the quantity of liquid fuel required by the burner Il fuel burner. Further, the fuel may be caused to flow by compressed air from the supply vessel to the burner by utilizing the opening and closing movements of the door of the cabinet to actuate an air pump, or the fuel may be caused to flow by vapor-lift action due to the heating effect of the burner flame. fore, the words energy resultingl from the operation of said refrigerator for causing ow of fuel should be -interpreted to include energy resulting from any manipulation of the refrigerator or operation of the refrigeration apparatus which is effective to cause iiow of fuel from V the supply vessel to the burner.

While I have shown and described several em- .f liquid fuel, means including a conduit for conducting fuel from said vessel to said burner, and

means to ow fuel from said vessel to said burner by raising liquid fuel against the force of gravity by energy resulting from operation of said refrigerator.v

2. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a thermally insulated storage compartment provided with an opening, a door hinged to said cabinet for closing the opening, absorption refor causing liquid fuel to 130W from said vesse to said burner.

3. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a thermally insulated storage compartment provided with an opening, a door hinged to said cabinet for closing the opening, absorption refrigeration apparatusjpcluding a heat receiving part and a cooling element, said cooling element being arranged in thermal exchange relation with said storage compartment, a liquid fuel burner for heating said part, a vessel adapted to contain liquid fuel, means including.` a conduit for conducting fuel from said vessel to said burner, and means operable by the opening and closing movements of said door to provide compressed air in said vessel for causing liquid fuel to flow therefrom to said burner. L

4. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a thermally insulated storage compartment provided with an opening, a door for closing the opening, absorption refrigeration apparatus in-v cluding a heat receiving part and a coolingelement, said cooling element being arranged in ,thermal exchange relation with said storage compartment, a liquid fuel burner forheating said part, a vessel adapted to contain liquid fuel,

means including a conduit for conducting fuel In the claims, there-- from said vessel to said burner, means lto provide compressed air in said vessel for raising liquid fuel against the force of gravity tol cause fuell to flow from said vessel to said burner, and

lmeans responsive to a temperature condition affected by said cooling element for controlling the flow of fuel from said vessel to said burner.

5. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having, a thermally insulated storage .compartment provided with `an opening, a door for closing the opening, absorption refrigeration apparatus including a heat receiving'part and a cooling element, said cooling element being arranged in thermal exchange relation with said storage compartment, a liquid fuel burner for heating said part, a vessel adapted to contain liquid fuel,

Ameans including a conduit for conducting fuel vfrom said vessel to said burner, means to provide compressed air in said vessel for raising liquid fuel against the force of gravity to Acause fuel to ow from said vessel to said burner,l and means responsive to a temperature condition affected by said vcooling element for controlling'` said last-mentioned means.

6. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a thermally insulated storage compartment provided with an opening, a door for closing the opening, absorption refrigeration apparatus includingl a heatl receiving part and a cooling element, said cooling'element being arranged in thermal exchange relation with said storage compartment, a liquid fuel burner for heating Y said part, a vessel adapted to contain liquid fuel, means including a conduitfor conducting fuel from said vessel to said burner, means to provide compressed air in said vessel for causing fuel to flow therefrom to said burner, and means responsive to theextinguishment of the flame produced by said burner for discharging the compressed air in said vessel to the atmosphere.

'7. In absorption refrigeration apparatus operlated by a liquid fuel burner, said apparatus in- .,cluding a cooling element, that improvement which consists in causing fuel to flow from a source of supply to said burner by compressed air, and controlling the compressed air thermostatically in response to a temperature condition affected by said cooling element.

8. In absorption refrigeration apparatus operated by a liquid fuel burner, that improvement which consists in causing fuel to flow from a source of supply to said burner by the heating effect of the burner flame.

9. In a refrigerator, absorption refrigeration apparatus including a heat receiving part and a cooling element, a liquid fuel burner for heating said part, a supply vessel adapted to contain liquid fuel, means for conducting fuel from said supply vessel to said burner, means including a compressed air storage vessel and a conduit connecting said storage vessel and said supply vessel to provide compressed air in4 said supply vessel for causing liquid fuel to flow-from the latter to said burner, a valve in said conduit, and thermostatic means responsive to a temperature condi, tion affectedby said cooling element for' controlling said valve. l

10. In a refrigerator including absorption refrigeration apparatus operated by a liquid fuel burner, .that improvement which consists in causing iiow of fuel from a source of supply to said brner by raising liquid fuel against the operation of said refrigerator.

11. In a refrigerator, absorption refrigeration apparatus including a heat receiving part and a cooling element, a liquid fuel burner for heating said part, a supply vessel adapted to contain liquid fuel, means including a first conduit for conducting fuel from said supply vessel to said burner, means including a compressed air storage vessel and a second conduit-connecting said storage vessel and said supply vessel lfor causing fuel to flow from the latter to said burner, means including a valve, connected in both of said conduits, and thermostatic meansfresponsive to the extinguishment of the Aflame produced by said burner for controlling said valve to discharge the compressed air in said supply Vessel to the atmosphere and stop theflo'w'of fuel to said burner in.

said first conduit, a valve in said second conduit,

and thermostatic meansresponsive to a tem-A perature condition aifect'edby said cooling element for controlling A said last-mentioned valve.

12. In a refrigerator, absorption refrigeration apparatus including a. heat receiving part and a cooling element, a liquid fuelburner for heating said part, a supply vessel adapted to contain liquid fuel, .means includingy a first conduit for conducting fuel from said supply vessel to said burner, means including a compressed air storage vessel and a second conduit connecting said storage vessel and said supply'vessel to provide compressed air for causing fuel to flow from said supply vessel to said burnerfand means in said second conduit responsive to a `temperature condition affected by said cooling element for maintaining said storage vessel in communication with said supply vessel, for disconnecting said storage vessel from said supply vessel, and for discharging the compressed air in said supply vessel to the atmosphere.`

13. In a refrigerator, absorption refrigeration apparatus including a heat receiving part and a cooling element, a liquid fuel burner for heating said part, a supply vessel `adapted to contain liquid fuel, means including a rst conduit for conducting fuel from said supply vessel to said burner, means including a compressed air storage vessel and a second conduit connecting said storage vessel and said supply vessel to provide compressed air in said supply vessel to cause liquid fuel to now from the latter to said burner,

and means responsive to a temperature condi-E tion affected by said cooling element for controlling the compressed air in said supply vessel.

14. In a refrigerator, absorption refrigeration apparatus including a generator, a liquid fuel burner for heating said generator, a vessel adapted to contain liquid fuel, means including a conduit for conducting fuel from said vessel to said burner, means including a compressed air storage vessel and a second conduit connecting said storage vessel and said supply vessel to provide compressed air in said supply vessel to cause to flow from the latter to said burner, and means in said second conduit for disconnecting said supply vessel from said storage vessel upon the extinguishment of the flame produced by said burner.

15. In a refrigerator, absorption refrigeration apparatus including a generator, a liquid fuel burner for heating said generator, a vessel adapted to contain liquid fuel, means including a conduit for conducting fuel from said vessel to said burner, and means connected in said conduit adapted to be Jheated by said burner for causing fuel to flow from said vessel to Said burner.

' 16. In a refrigerator, absorption refrigeration apparatus including a generator, a liquid fuel burner for heating said generator, a supply vessel adapted to contain liquid fuel, a second 'vessel at a higher level than said supply vessel, means including a conduit` for conducting fuel from said supply vessel to said second vessel, means forming a part of said conduit adapted to be heated by-said burner for causing 'vaporized and liquid fuel to now by vapor lift-action from said supply vessel to said second vessel, and separate conduits connecting said second vessel and said burner for conducting vaporized and liquid fuel, respectively, from said' second vessel to said burner.

l 17. Arefrigerator including a cabinet having a thermally insulated storage compartment and apparatus compartments below and at the rear of said storage compartment, absorption refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element arranged in thermal exchange relation with said storage compartment and a generator located in said apparatus compartment at the rear of said storage compartment, a liquid fuel burner for heating said generator located in said lower apparatus compartment below said storage compartment, said. burner normally being adjacent to said generator and movable in said lower apparatus compartment to the front of said cabinet, a vessel adapted to contain liquid fuel in said lower apparatus compartment and normally accessible for lling without disturbing said burner, and means including a flexible conduit for conducting liquid fuel from said vessel to said burner.

18. In a refrigerator, absorption rigeration apparatus including a cooling'element and a generator, a liquid fuel burner for heating said generator, a supply vessel having an opening and adapted to contain liquid fuel, a valve for closing said opening, a second vessel at a higher level than said supply vessel, means including a conduit for conducting fuel from said supply vessel t0 said second vessel, means forming a part of said conduit adapted to be heated by said burner for causing vaporized and liquid fuel to flow by vapor-lift action from said supply vessel to said second vessel when said valve is open, separate conduits connecting said second vessel and said burner for conducting vaporized and liquid fuel, respectively, from said second vessel to said burner, and means responsive to the temperature of said cooling element for closing said valve when said cooling element tends to fall below a desired temperature.

19. In a refrigerator, absorptionrefrigeration apparatus including a cooling element, a liquid fuel burner for heating said apparatus, a vessel having an opening and adapted to contain liquid fuel, a valve for closing the opening, a conduit for conducting fuel from said vessel to said burner, means connected in said conduit adapted to be heated by said burner for causing fuel to flow from said vessel to said burner, and means responsive to a temperature condition affected bv said cooling element for controlling said valve.

20. In a refrigerator, refrigeration apparatus including a heat receiving part, a liquid fuel burner for heating said part, conduit means to conduct liquid fuel from a source of supply to said burner, and means to now fuel in said conduit means by raising liquid fuel against the force of gravity by energy resulting from operation o'f the refrigerator.

21. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a thermally insulated space provided with an opening, a movable closure member for closing the opening, refrigeration apparatus operated by heat and including a heat receiving part and a cooling element, said cooling element being arranged in thermal exchange relation with said space, a liquid fuel burner for heating said part, a supply vessel for liquitl fuel, conduit means connecting said vessel and said burner, means to iiovv fuel from said vessel to said burner by raising liquid fuel against the force of grav-ity in said conduit means by energy resulting from operation of the refrigerator, and means responsive to a temperature condition affected by said cooling` element for controlling ow of fuel in said conduit means.

22. In a refrigerator including refrigeration apparatus having a cooling element and operated by a liquid fuel burner, the improvement which consists in flowing fuel from a source of supply to said burner by raising liquid fuel against the force of gravity by energy resulting from operation of said refrigerator, and thermostatically controlling the raising of liquid against the force of gravity in response to a temperature condition affected by said cooling element.

23. In a refrigerator, refrigeration apparatus operated .by heat and including a heat receiving part, a liquid fuel burner for heating said part, a supply vessel for liquid fuel, conduit means connecting said vessel and said burner, means to provide compressed air in said Vessel for causing ow of fuel in said conduit means, and means responsive to the temperature of said burner for controlling the compressed air in said vessel.

24. A refrigerator comprising a cabinetv having a thermally insulated space provided with an opening, a door for closing the opening, refrigeration apparatus operated by heat and including a heat receiving part and a cooling element, said cooling element being arranged in thermal exchange relation with said space', a liquid fuel burner for heating said part, a supply vessel for liquid fuel, conduit means connecting said vessel and said burner, and means to cause flow of fuel in said conduit means by opening and closing movements of said door.

25. In a refrigerator, a cabinet including a movable member, refrigeration apparatus operated by heat and including a heat receiving part and a cooling element, a liquid fuel burner for heating said part, a supply vessel for liquid fuel, conduit means connecting said vessel and said burner, and means to cause flow of fuel in said conduit means by movement of said movable member. J

26. In a refrigerator, absorption refrigeration apparatus including a heat receiving-part and a cooling element, a liquid fuel burner for heating said part, a vessel adapted to contain liquid fuel, means including a conduit for conducting fuel from said vessel to said burner, means to provide compressed air in said vessel for raising liquid fuel against the force of gravity to cause fuel to flow from said vessel to said burner, and

a valve in said conduit responsive to a temperature condition affected by said cooling element for controlling the flow of fuel from said vessel to said burner.

27. In absorption refrigeration apparatus operated by a liquid fuel burner, said apparatus including a cooling element, that improvement which consists in causing fuel to flow from a source of supply to said burner by compressed air, and releasing the compressed air to the atmosphere ,upon extinguishment of the burner flame.

GUNNAR GRUBB. 

